Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-06-17
OLD BETHANY
EXPERIENCES A GREATREvIYALo OF INTER
Est IN FHB e0LLEGE
The Fury-Sixth Commencement Exsrcisss-A
Large Crowd in Attendance and
Pleasant Day Passed by All.

Large Ur0Wd IN Auonoance anu
/ Pleasant Day Passed BY All.
Yesterday was a glorious day for Beth
any and Bethany College. Besides Wit
Messing the Forty-sixth Commencement OF
of that old and honored institution, it
also saw great revival of interest in it,
and it seemed as if all nature conspired to
make the day one ofljoy and happiness.
For some years past the financial affairs OF
College have been in a rather precarious
condition, owing to numerous reverses she
has met with, and the people seemed TO
have lost interest in the welfare Of the IN
stitution. But now things have changed,
and the future looks bright and promising
Prof. W. H. wOOlery, who has been act
ing President of the college for the past two
years and who has done more than any
other man to pull it through reyerses ana
misfortune, recently accepted the Presi-
dency of Hiram College in Ohio, and from
that time on there was feeling Of sadness
in the hearts of all friends of Bethany
College, who realized that its doom was
close at hand if Prof. WOolery left. The
Board of Directors went into session on
Tuesday and the result was awaited with
anxious interest. But the meeting adj
iourned without having done anything.
The Board met again Wednesday put
still
| NOTHING WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
Yesterday morning another session was
held and the announcement was made that
Prof. Woolery had been induced TO remain
and had been appointed to the Presidency
of the College. This good news spread
about the town rapidly, and where sorrow
had been there was great joy. Everybody
is confident now that the crisis in the al
fairs of Bethany is past and from this on
she will commence to regain her old foot
hold among the substantial and successful
institutions of learning in the country,
and there is no reason she cannot do this,
ifthe people of this vicinity will assist IN
I
the effort to be made.
If the people of Bethany took time to
think they would see what vast benefit
the College is to the town, and in fact to
the whole upper end of the State. AS II
stands it brings ut least SAC, 900 into the
vicinity every year, and, as President
Pendleton remarked, it is the greatest
| benefit to this end of the State OF any In
stitution next to the iron and steel indus
tries. In the appointment OF MIR. >. Nj
Cooper as financial agent the Board has
done a wise thing, and there is not much
doubt that the people of the country
about will contribute literally to give the
institution o good, substantial foundation
There are many other cities after the
College and
ANXIOUS TO GET IT.
President PendletOn is just in receipt Of
an offer from Lincoln, Neb., of large
amount ofland and liberal endowment Il
the college is located there. Prof. Woolery
states that the demand for ministerial
graduates from the institution exceeds the
supply. But suffice it to say that the peo
pie have realized the situation and there Is
/ no QOuDJ they VIII COLhO pAOuPhy w YIN
aid of the college.
The Faculty is one of the best ever in the
college, and is composed of young blood
which promises well. President-elect Wool
ery is popular and beloved by the pupils o.
the school, as we'll as all its patrons anG
friends and when the formal announce
ment was made of his appointment the
building shook with applause. He is 8
member of the Glass of '76 of Bethany anC
for the past five years he has been teaching
in the College and also preaching in the
Campbellite church there. He was borr
in Kentucky in 1850, and is therefore
thirty-seven years of age. Besides being
thoroughly competent teacher, he poSSeSse'
the executive ability and dignity to up
hold the maize and fame of old Bethany
| Retiring President Pendleton, who hal
devoted his life work to the success of thu
College retires with honor and credit fOl
the great work he has accomplished at it
head, and President WOOlery says he viii
take ND the work where his predeceSso
laid il down and continue it. 1t is very
evident that WoOlery and success ar
synonymous.
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
Although the exercises of Commence
ment week began on Tuesday evening
Yesterday was Commencement day proper
and early in the morning crowds OF people
began pouring into the old town in con
yeyances of all sorts, and from all direc
tions. The weather was perfect, and al
though the sun was quite warm, the at
mosphere was tempered by a pleasan
breeze which was very perceptible OWNS
to the elevated position of the town.
The Commencement exercises were Il
have begun at 10 o'clock a. M, but tn,
good people of Bethany do not hurry them
selves in such matters, and it was fully al
hour later before the programme was fairly
opened.
If Bishop Alexander Campbell, the found
er of Bethany College, could yesterday hay,
looked through the eyes of the marble bus
of himself, which occupies prominen
position on the stage in Commencement
Hall, it would have made his heart swell
with pride. 1t seemed to be regular ole
revival day at Bethany, and the large hal
was filed comfortably with an audienc,
that would have been credit to any city il
the country.
The graduating class and representative
of the other classes, preceded by the Fac
ulty and Board of Trustees, assembled Al
President PendletOn's residence, and HEADED
by the Opera House brass band, marched
to the hall, where they occupied seats OF
the stage. The orchestra was located in tn,
balcony, and they furnished. not by any
means the least enjoyable part of the pro
gramme. Their music was superb and re
ceived the plaudits of the audience.
Rev. Ellsworth, of BraddOck, Pa.
opened with prayer, after which Presiden
Pendleton introduced Miss V. r. Shriver
of Bethany, as the
sALUTARIAN OF THE CLASS.
Miss Shriver, who was the only lady il
the class read a we'll prepared paper il
which she spoke of the preparation the
class had made during the prescribed
course to fit themselves to fight the battle:
of life. She referred to the many pleas
ant associations formed in their school lift
and the happy memories they will always
retain Of their friendships. To the alumni
the scholars and the friends of the College